There’s never been a shortage of great brunch options in Los Angeles, including traditional American favorites, classic French fare, and some of the best modern Mexican food in the country. So grab your friends, reserve a table, and revel in this quintessential weekend ritual. Here now are 15 of the essential brunches to try in greater LA. For the hottest new brunch spots, check out this list.
Read MoreThe 15 Essential Brunch Destinations in Los Angeles
Where to eat the ultimate weekend meal in LA
Petit Trois Le Valley
Come to Petit Trois on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a French take on brunch. While it’s tough not to fill up on pastries like croissants and caneles, save room for chef Ludo Lefevre’s signature omelet with Boursin cheese, the Mec muffin breakfast sandwich, and a napoleon for dessert.
Little Dom's
Two words: ricotta pancakes. The clubby Los Feliz Italian restaurant has built a strong brunch following on that fluffy, blueberry-studded dish alone, but other daytime options include a breakfast pizza topped with speck; wood oven-roasted eggs with sourdough toast; and meatball sandwiches. Don’t forget a spritz or Negroni, should boozy brunch be on the docket.
Clark Street Diner
Considering it’s owned by Clark Street Bread, anything served on a house-made loaf or that comes with toast is outstanding at this diner-style spot in the former 101 Coffee Shop in Hollywood. One can also make a feast of pastries, pancakes, eggs Benedict or Florentine, and hash browns. Wash it all down with strong coffee served in thick mugs.
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Salt's Cure
Salt’s Cure prides itself on California-grown ingredients and brunch time is no exception. Chef Chris Phelps’s thoughtfully sourced menu offers fantastic things like the iconic oatmeal griddle cakes, a messy (in a good way) breakfast sandwich, and even a hearty grain bowl.
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All Day Baby
While brunch is technically offered all week at this Silver Lake spot, come in on the weekends for a leisurely feast of fried chicken sandwiches, biscuit sandwiches, breakfast burritos (featuring a spicy longanisa sausage), and Belgian waffles with smoked maple syrup. Wash it all down with boozy milkshakes.
Petrossian West Hollywood
Petrossian remains one of the most luxurious places for a weekend meal in West Hollywood, focusing on numerous French-inflected dishes with the shop’s prized caviar. Previous, well-prepared salads like Nicoise and Bibb give way to caviar-topped blini, hand-sliced smoked salmon with bagel, and eggs benedict. Make sure a well-off parent or friend takes care of the tab, or go when one’s crypto wallet feels especially bloated, because the prices are pretty high. But for a rarefied, quiet brunch situation where everyone can hear the conversation, Petrossian is a great pick.
Crustacean
Crustacean has resided on the same Beverly Hills corner since 1995, undergoing a complete interior makeover a few years ago. The brunch menu offers a playful approach to dim sum (and tribute to Crustacean matriarch Helene An) called “an sum” with duck potstickers, vegan crab rangoon, or beignets. Larger plates include ube soufflé pancakes, a Wagyu crispy rice Benedict, or the breakfast fried rice. The pop-lini cocktail is a must-try, and is made with prosecco, Wakamono peaches, and a white peach sorbet. —Mona Holmes, reporter
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Republique
It’s never been easier to experience brunch at Republique. Order all the hits, including Margarita Manzke’s incredible pastries, brioche French toast, and kimchi fried rice. Be prepared to wait in the long, but speedy, line.
Liu’s Cafe
Who expected this plucky little Taiwanese and Hong Kong-influenced cafe to light up this section of Koreatown? Liu’s Cafe comes from a set of partners who had a hand in opening Tokki down on Sixth Street, a modern Korean restaurant that has since closed but ushered in a new era of modern Asian dining in the neighborhood. Serving pork belly and chiayi chicken rice bowls with boiled eggs, Hong Kong pastries like pineapple buns, and milk tea, Liu’s Cafe is a terrific spot for weekend brunch as well, with an Chinese American take on the classic breakfast plate. Make sure to try the French toast too.
Manuela
Arts District restaurant Manuela serves what could be Downtown area’s most popular weekend brunch, with patrons waiting to nab a table at the airy museum space on bright, sunny days. Expect Southern-inflected dishes like shrimp & grits, cast iron cornbread, cream biscuits, and grilled grass-fed hangar steak with eggs for a lazy but lovely weekend brunch.
Poppy + Rose
Grab a seat at Poppy + Rose for crowd-pleasing favorites like a buttermilk fried chicken and waffle, steak breakfast burrito, and biscuits and gravy. Reservations are highly recommended on weekends, but fans with some time to keep mid-week can also sneak in for a daytime meal as well, as brunch runs every day here.
Damian
Damian’s excellent Mexican cooking translates beautifully to brunch. Served on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the menu includes scallop aguachile, machaca chilaquiles, and a delightful array of pastries, like a blue corn concha and kouign amann with cajeta. Brunch cocktails like the smoked highball and daydream — with mezcal, Aperol, and watermelon — will stretch the afternoon even longer.
Great White
Venice’s breezy, sunny Great White offers a fantastic all-day brunch inspired by the beaches of Australia. The wide menu has something for everyone, including a mean breakfast burrito, stomach-filling grain bowl, and market fruit-topped hotcake. The avocado toast is easily one of the best on the Westside while those who want heftier bites can opt for the juicy double patty burger or blistered wood-fired pizzas.
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Pann's Restaurant
One of the most iconic Googie diners in Los Angeles, Pann’s originally opened in 1958 just a few miles away from LAX serving reliable American breakfast and lunch classics. The fried chicken and waffles are a must order, along with the hotcakes with choice of eggs any style and protein. During the day, club sandwiches, tuna melts, and burgers are popular picks while those who want a full plate can order country fried steak with pork gravy. Indulgent eaters can pick a sundae or milkshake to finish. The large glass windows, comfy banquettes, and friendly counter seating makes Pann’s one of the most charming places for weekend brunch anywhere.
Manhattan Beach Post
The decade-old brunch menu at chef David Lefevre’s Manhattan Beach Post is as good as ever with bacon-cheddar biscuits, deep-fried chimichanga burritos, and cinnamon rolls on offer. It’s a South Bay favorite, especially for those who like to start their mornings on a breadier, pastry-centric note.
RYLA
Ryla might have the best brunch in Hermosa Beach with its playful take on Japanese and Taiwanese flavors told through typical weekend dishes. Think egg crepes, egg-topped fried rice, pork belly eggs benedict, and a gorgeous fluffy Japanese souffle pancake topped with blueberry compote. The menu’s grown pretty side in the past year, with sushi rolls, yuzu shio butter ramen, and even Hong Kong French toast, making this a pure crowd-pleaser just a few steps from the beach.